Scoutmaster Teddy

Thanks for the replies. The ASM only stayed at camp from Sunday thru Wednesday morning. I'll ask my OA advisor to inquire with the lodge. They would be a plus to the OA scouts, which is what is needed.

Jump right in! The Pack I started in has the Lion program and the boys love it.

Do the 15 camping nights in the previous 2 years still apply? If so, I have a question. If an ASM has 5 long term nights, 9 regular camping nights, and tented for only 3 of the 5 days at a second summer camp, does at least 1 night at the second summer camp qualify? That would give them the 15 needed to be considered.

Thanks!

http://www.nccs-bsa.org/index.php/faq/membership-standards

I did some research on Scouts-L and found that the unit in question does indeed run a clandestine co-ed program. It works in Cambridge...

More info and an article on the unit can be found at:

http://archive.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/08/07/girls_not_allowed/

The Pack/Troop/Crew are combined using LFL to add the females.

It's only a matter of time. Money and lawyers will determine the outcome.

I wouldn't doubt that co-ed units are coming. I heard from a insider at BSA HQ that they are already working on integrating the sexes in Cub Scouts. I can't offer proof or disclose the person but you can be assured it will come. Mention "lawsuit" and things change rapidly.

BSA Announcement from Chief Scout Executive Michael Surbaugh

 

Next up on the chopping block "A Scout is Reverent." Wait for a couple of lawsuit threats and God is out.

Scouters not understanding what a patrol or the patrol method is  

Bingo! Same problems I'm facing as new Scoutmaster. 

The scout is in the right. The BOR is a progress check, nothing more. No retesting should be allowed at the BOR. The scout and the BOR members should reconcile with each other. After that, consider having the scout teach other scouts some knots and have the BOR members trained (after his BOR reconvenes and rank is approved, he has done the requirements). 

Not enough visitors in Irving, close to the National Headquarters? Seems to me that technology isn't the only thing needed fixed at National.

Welome to the forum! Jump right in.

Our CCs understood our program very well, which is why they were selected.

 

The thing I learned about moms in general is that you can sell them all you want on boy run and patrol method, but they aren't convinced until they see it in action. Once they see it, they are not only believers, they are the troops biggest cheer leaders. I have a lot of stories about moms making all of a sudden seeing the light. I don't understand it, but I saw it happen with several moms. I can't recall a single dad making the same conversion.

 

Barry

Ah, yes. Fathers who can't see the light even when their wife pointed it out to them. We have two active Moms in the troop. Both are trusting enough with boy-led that they do not interfere nor question. Unless, of course, they hear something bad happen on a campout or other activity. Dads, on the other hand, especially this fresh from Cubs are a pain in the arse. We don't have helicopter parents, we have helicopter ASMs.

My district, like that of Sentinel97, has experienced growth the last three years. And we are considered rural. We had the only positive growth in our Council for two of those years. We owe it to a stellar DE, a strong recruitment committee, and good old-fashioned elbow grease.

22 scouts (~14 active)

1 SPL

1 ASPL

2 PL's

1 SM

7 ASM's

Committee has 10 people (7 are ASM's)

True it's no big deal, but there's this "Do your best" motto that's kind of a nag.

 

Does the boy still have his handbooks? That's the first thing you should ask. Anything worth earning should have been signed off there.That little exercise will help prepare him for taking charge of his own progress.

 

Then, just look at his uniform. Have him bring in whatever he's bling he has managed to keep. What pins does he have? Make this fun for the boys. Have his den help you identify anything on his uniform that will help "set the record straight"! Then give him a "welcome back" patch. (I'm sure by now you have a few spares from past events that he might have missed.)

 

Sure you could drop a line to some other council HQ and try and chase paper. But where's the fun in that?

Qwazse nailed it! It would be a blast to let the other boys see his "bling."

There has been a tendency to hover around the boys and make corrections. Instead of helicopter parents we have helicopter assistant scoutmasters. Since we have scout skills as part of the troop meeting plan, I was thinking of scout skills as part of the leaders meeting plan. Like five minutes worth. A little friendly competition away from the regular troop meeting. Besides, an assistant scoutmaster who cannot pitch a tent, tie down the adult's dining fly, or operate a camp stove is in need of training. Some boys think it's funny that Mr./Mrs. So and So can't set up a tent or light the lantern.

The 'patrol' is mostly symbolic. We use it as part of the fun.

I have mixed feelings.....

If not very careful, the idea crosses a line.... well maybe it crosses that line anyway.....

 

Scouting is a game for boys, with the aim of building character.  It's really nothing more than that.

 It's not a men's club, or adult club, or really any sort of thing for adults at all.

I read somewhere, i wish I could give proper credit for it.... and I'll have to paraphrase

     Everything we do as scouters, we do for the scouts ..... but we don't do everything for the scouts.

It is from this perspective that i understand the idea that some have to strictly limit the number of adults involved to only the SM and ASM. With the rest of the adults being banished to the sidelines to watch the game as you would a soccer game.

 

On the other hand.....honestly I understand the motivation and personally like the idea.  This game of scouting is centered around activities that boys like to do.  I'm a boy-man as BP described it.  i want to do those things too.  So, I guess my gut tells me that as long as it's activities done only while the scouts are doing something else, and it's done without a purpose (intended or not) to increase the adult roster needlessly, then where's the harm?.....

 

It just seems like such a fine line that's too easy to fall from.....

That is a fine line. If any of the boys objected we would drop the patch in a heartbeat.  The boys don't seem to mind. We will begin to separate ourselves from the boys when camping. Right now there is a tendency to let the boys do all the cooking and cleaning. I plan to have the adults cook their own food all the time and mind our distance.

http://www.patchtown.com/images/view.aspx?productId=373

We have the 'Old Gray Hair Patrol,' complete with a patch! When I become scoutmaster here in a couple weeks I plan to take our patrol a few steps farther and make sure we all have scout to 1st class skills. I'll also implement a separate dining area on campouts.

We are considering a Philmont Trek for leaders. I think they call it an 'Autumn Adventure.' 

Dean

Welcome! Another midwesterner here, from West Central Illinois. I lurked for a while also.

Dean Roberts

Scoutmaster-Elect, Troop 315 Macomb
I used to be an Owl, C3-133-11
..and a Staffer too! C3-133-14 and C3-133-16

"Train 'em. Trust 'em. LET THEM LEAD!" - William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt

We have an All-You-Can-eat Chili Supper every November. $6 for adults, $3 for kids, the whole family for $15. Scouts can keep 1/3 of their personal sales for their scout accounts. A lot of the supplies are donated and we use the CO's kitchen for cooking and serving. Net "profit" usually $1500+. Popcorn only if you want to sell. We tried selling first aid kits but that failed. Dues are $18 per year for scouts, no dues for adults. We also do service projects each month and we usually get pretty good donations from the VFW and American Legion and their Auxiliaries. That keeps our campouts to an average cost of $5 per person per day. We also maintain our trailer and equipment.

The last few years we have been the lucky recipient of a Comcast Cares Day. We find a local project and have Comcast supply the materials and lunch/tshirts. In return, Comcast donates about $40 per person to the troop (anyone, including non-scouts) who shows up for the work. Big turnout - big check.

Dean

Dean Roberts

Scoutmaster-Elect, Troop 315 Macomb
I used to be an Owl, C3-133-11
..and a Staffer too! C3-133-14 and C3-133-16

"Train 'em. Trust 'em. LET THEM LEAD!" - William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt

http://www.macscouter.com/cubscouts/

- Dean Roberts

We have a local scout whose parents enrolled him into a neighboring a council's troop. I've taken training in a neighboring council.

This is exactly what we try to avoid. Having everything there just in case promotes lack of planning. Experiences which involve not having something due to error in planning is a learning experience. Boys learn to plan better and/or improvise. Adults should be far away from the boys for meals imho.

I'm trying to change the culture. It's hard to do. i'm a finalist for Scoutmaster. If I'm appointed changes will come. If not, who knows? I'll might get vetoed as usual.

I haven't seen that in my council, Illowa. I do know that my DE covers 4 counties in West Central Illinois. She could use some help, I'm sure. that's a lot of area to cover. Odd thing is that we are closer to 3 other councils (Mississippi Valley, Abraham Lincoln, WD Boyce).